Europe attractions

The 17th-century Tanzmeisterhaus (Dance Master's House), where Mozart lived from 1773 to 1780 and composed many of his masterpieces, is now a museum devoted to Salzburg’s most famous resident. Beautifully restored in period style, the Mozart Residence (Mozart-Wohnhaus or Mozarts Wohnhaus) takes visitors on a journey through Mozart’s life and works.

Situated on the Polish-Slovakian border, Tatra National Park is home to glacial lakes such as Morskie Oko; hundreds of mountain caves; and some of Poland’s highest mountains. Easily accessible from the winter resort town of Zakopane, it’s a hiker’s paradise with more than 170 miles (274 kilometers) of hiking trails, plus skiing opportunities nearby.

Built using funds donated by American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Peace Palace (Vredespaleis) is one of The Hague’s best-known landmarks. The grand neo-Renaissance building is home to the UN’s International Court of Justice, which hears legal disputes between states.

Built in the late 18th century as Dublin’s Royal Exchange, this grand Georgian building was designed by renowned architect Thomas Cooley. Nowadays, it hosts Dublin City Council meetings and a multimedia exhibition in the basement, which follows the development of the Irish capital over the centuries.

Originally designed in 1980 as the movie set for the Robert Altman film Popeye, starring Robin Williams, Popeye Village (also known as Sweethaven Village) has been preserved as a Popeye theme park. The popular family attraction not only lets visitors explore the purpose-built set, but hosts a range of fun and interactive activities for all ages.

Car lovers and admirers of iconic design will hit the brakes for the Lamborghini Museum (Museo Lamborghini), a tribute to the passion and life’s work of founder Ferruccio Lamborghini. It showcases one of Italy’s premier automotive companies in a journey through the past, present, and future of the coveted car brand. Admire vintage sports cars and famous models such as the Miura supercar, Countach, Sesto Elemento, and Reventón, along with the new Urus.

Note: Sint-Janshospitaal is temporarily closed. Dating back to the 12th century, Sint-Janshospitaal (or Saint John’s Hospital) housed the sick for more than 800 years. Today, it’s one of the oldest surviving hospitals in Europe—and it’s open to the public. Lucky visitors can tour the chapel, explore the collection of artwork and vintage medical supplies, and even wander medieval wards where monks and nuns did their best to nurture patients.

In the heart of Krakow’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, Rynek Underground (Podziemia Rynku) sits approximately 13 feet (4 meters) below the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny), one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Europe. This subterranean museum showcases Poland’s past through interactive displays, artifacts, and 4D movies.

With a reputation for elegance and a starring role in Federico Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita, Via Veneto was the mid-century stomping ground of international celebrities and paparazzi. Today, the stylish thoroughfare remains one of central Rome’s most glamorous addresses, lined with luxury hotels, chic bars, streetside cafés, and high-end boutiques. This small corner of Rome appeals primarily to those interested in the finer things or 20th-century architecture.

Emphasizing biodiversity and conservation research, the Barcelona Zoo is home to some 2,000 animals across more than 300 different species, and even more types of plant life. Look out for mammals, birds, and reptiles from different parts of the globe, all in living areas that mimic their natural habitats.

Rising to a height of 2,959 feet (902 meters, Mt. Fóia is the highest peak in the Algarve. The views from its summit are staggering: on a clear day, you can see as far as Cape Saint Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente, the wave-battered headland on the Algarve’s southwestern coast that was once believed to be the edge of the world.

Transformed from a farmhouse into a stately home in 1533, Noordeinde Palace (Paleis Noordeinde) in The Hague was presented to William of Orange’s widow in recognition of her husband’s service to the Netherlands. Noordeinde Palace is one of four palaces across the country owned by the Dutch royal family and serves as the office of King Willem-Alexander.

As visitors to the Czech Republic soon find out, Pilsner Urquell is practically synonymous with Czech beer. It’s brewed in the city of Pilsen (Plzeň), in the western Czech Republic. Beer lovers can take a tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery (Plzeňský Prazdroj) to learn more about the beer’s history and production, and to have a taste.

Leave the bustling streets of London behind as you explore Kensington Gardens, one of the city’s most famous green spaces. As you stroll among tree-lined avenues and flower-filled walks, you’ll encounter London landmarks such as the gloriously Gothic Albert Memorial and the statue of Peter Pan down by the duck pond. The park is also home to the Serpentine Gallery, which showcases work from contemporary artists and architects.

A 20-minute ferry ride across the waters of the Mediterranean Sea transports travelers from the high-class commotion of Cannes to the tranquil Île Sainte-Marguerite, a small island with more pine trees than people. Bring your walking shoes and your love for the great outdoors for the perfect day trip away from it all.

Featuring four halls and an enduring mission to support innovation within music, the Wiener Konzerthaus is one of Vienna’s most important musical institutions. The concert hall opened in 1913 and holds roughly 750 performances each calendar season, from classical orchestral concerts to jazz and world music.

While Palermo has a number of bustling outdoor markets worth exploring for the lively atmosphere, the most famous is Vucciria Market, known locally as La Vucciria. Located in the historic center around Piazza San Domenico, the stalls predominantly sell fish, meat, and produce—but you can find a little of everything here.

Famed for its namesake blue-and-white pottery and for being the birthplace of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, Delft is ringed by scenic canals and offers a much more tranquil atmosphere than nearby Amsterdam. The quaint Dutch town is also notable for its medieval buildings and its lively market, which is the perfect place to people-watch and enjoy a traditional stroopwafel (caramel-smothered waffle).

Vienna’s enduring Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule), established in the 16th century, is the world’s oldest horseback riding academy of its kind. See snow-white Lipizzaner horses practice and perform classical dressage exercises to the sounds of classical music, within a regal venue inside the Hofburg Palace. This long-standing tradition has made the school a Viennese institution, one that’s registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

Congress Square (Kongresni trg) is a historically significant Baroque piazza uniting some of the city's most beautiful landmarks and attractions. The peaceful square and the tree-filled Star Park at its center is a popular place to relax like a local, while admiring the iconic Ljubljana Castle at a nearby hilltop.

The fortress-like Arkadi Monastery (Moni Arkadiou) is perched on a hilltop plateau surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, while Crete’s highest peak, Mt. Ida, looms in the distance. Picturesque and architecturally impressive, with fairy-tale turrets and a dramatic bell tower, the monastery is also a symbol of the Cretan struggle for independence.

The Lanes is one of Brighton’s most atmospheric shopping areas, packed with independent shops, cafés, vintage stores, jewellers, and traditional pubs. The pedestrianized maze of narrow alleyways dates back to the 16th century and offers a completely different feel to the modern seafront area. Whether you’re shopping, bar-hopping, or simply wandering between hidden courtyards, it’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Brighton.

The core structure of St. Sofia Church, one of the oldest churches in the Bulgarian capital, dates back to the sixth century, although it has evolved over time. Excavations have revealed the remains of several earlier churches plus a Roman-era necropolis under and around the Byzantine basilica, and the site is now an underground museum.

Standing guard over the marina at the western edge of Portakal Beach, the Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) is one of Alanya’s most memorable landmarks, with its distinctive red brick and medieval ramparts. Dating back to the 13th century, the tower was part of the mighty sea defense walls of Alanya Castle and affords magnificent views across the harbor.

Sitting in the shadow of Lisbon’s 25th of April Bridge, the Santo Amaro Docks, known locally as Docas, are both a functioning marina and a nightlife hot spot. The area holds moorings for more than 300 boats and is home to a wealth of bars and restaurants set in converted waterfront warehouses. Nearby are several museums, the LxFactory arts center, and the new Pilar 7 Bridge Experience, perfect for a daytime visit.

Cybele Palace (Palacio de Cibeles) is a landmark building with a modest past—this turn-of-the-century architectural gem was once a central post office, and later a government building. Now open to the public, the palace is known for the art happenings at its cultural space—CentroCentro—and the city views from its 8th-floor terrace.

The neo-Gothic cathedral of Buen Pastor (the Good Shepherd) was completed in 1897 at a time when San Sebastián was a flourishing, aristocratic seaside resort. Made of sandstone and slate harvested from Monte Igueldo west of town, the church with its towering needle-like spire (the tallest in Basque Country) is one of the icons of the city.

Cutting through Prague’s Baroque heart, Nerudova Street (Nerudova Ulice) is one of the city’s most attractive thoroughfares. The street is lined by pastel 17th- and 18th-century townhouses—many sporting carved symbols that once represented the trade of their original owners. Today, they’re occupied by lively hotels, shops, and eateries.

Stately Kotzia Square (Plateia Kotzia) is lined with some of the most elegant 19th-century neoclassical buildings in Athens, including the City Hall and the National Bank of Greece. A modern fountain marks the center, while a small archaeological site situated in one corner features the remains of tombs and an ancient road. Lively pedestrian streets fan out in all directions, offering plenty of options for shopping and dining, while the busy Athens Central Market is just a short walk away.

This 18th-century cathedral is best known as the site of the suicide of the seven Czech partisan paratroopers who assassinated the hated Nazi leader of Bohemia, Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich. Today, the SS. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral (Katedrální Chrám Sv. Cyrila a Metodeje) houses the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror, which commemorates their sacrifice and the Czech resistance movement.